The wait for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 is finally over, and the premiere episode, “Cause and Effect,” did not hold back. The episode delivered exactly what fans wanted: the return of Lee Shaw, the terrifying debut of a new Titan known as Titan X, and a whole lot of Kong. But hidden inside the fast-paced action and the emotional reunions was a small moment designed specifically for the most hardcore kaiju enthusiasts. During a flashback scene set in the 1950s, the show’s writers dropped a reference to a monster with a truly wild real-life origin story. This wasn’t just any made-up creature for the show. It was a nod to Pulgasari, a cult classic monster from North Korean cinema with a production history stranger than fiction.
Bill Randa Remembers the Name of a Korean Legend
Early in the first episode, the story jumps back in time to follow the younger versions of Lee Shaw (Wyatt Russell), Bill Randa (Anders Holm), and Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto). The trio is on a fishing boat, heading toward an island. They are trying to remember the specific name of a creature they have heard about but never seen. Bill Randa struggles to describe it, mentioning that it eats metal and looks like a mix of different animals—a bear, a tiger, a rhino, and an elephant.
After going back and forth, Bill finally lands on the correct name: Pulgasari. Lee Shaw jokes that Bill spent a lot of time searching for this monster in Korea. Bill quickly defends his knowledge, stating that the creature is “well-documented in Korean mythology.” For the average viewer, this moment is just a quick piece of dialogue that shows how deep Monarch’s research goes. But for those who know their monster movie history, that single word, Pulgasari, carries a massive amount of weight .
The description Bill gives matches the traditional Korean folklore of the Bulgasari, a creature said to devour metal and cannot be destroyed. However, the reference in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Episode 1 is not just about the myth. It is a direct nod to the 1985 film Pulgasari, a North Korean monster movie that was made under unbelievable circumstances .
The Wild True Story Behind the Pulgasari Movie
To understand why this Easter egg is so special, you have to look at the history of the film itself. The movie Pulgasari was directed by Shin Sang-ok, a famous South Korean filmmaker. But he did not make the movie willingly. In 1978, Shin Sang-ok and his wife, actress Choi Eun-hee, were kidnapped by orders of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. The dictator wanted to build up North Korea’s film industry and thought forcing top talent from the South was the fastest way to do it .
During their captivity, Shin Sang-ok was ordered to create monster movies. Pulgasari was his answer to the popular Godzilla films coming out of Japan. It was made using traditional “suitmation” techniques, where an actor wears a costume to play the monster, stomping on miniature sets. Incredibly, Kim Jong Il even hired technicians from Toho, the Japanese company behind Godzilla, to help with the special effects. This means the North Korean monster movie has a direct connection to the very studio that created the king of the monsters .
The film was completed and released in North Korea in 1986. But shortly after, Shin Sang-ok and his wife managed to escape during a trip to Vienna. After their escape, the film was banned in North Korea. The movie later gained a cult following in the West for its bizarre origin and its place as one of the very few kaiju films to come out of North Korea .
By having Bill Randa mention Pulgasari, the writers of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 are tipping their hat to this strange piece of cinema history. It shows that in the world of the show, Monarch has been tracking not just the Titans of the Monsterverse, but also the myths and legends that inspired real-world monster movies.
What Else Happened in the Season 2 Premiere?
While the Pulgasari Easter egg was a fun moment for hardcore fans, the main plot of the episode focused on much bigger problems. The episode picked up right where Season 1 left off, with the team on Skull Island. Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) refuses to believe that Lee Shaw is dead. She leads a risky mission back to the portal to rescue him from the Axis Mundi .
Her plan works, and Shaw comes back through the portal. But something follows him. A massive, aquatic creature that Monarch designates as Titan X forces its way out of the Hollow Earth. The flashbacks to 1957 showed the team first hearing about this “Sea God” from villagers in Chile, who worshipped it and kept its existence secret . In the present day, the creature’s arrival causes chaos. In the chaos, one of Titan X’s massive tentacles strikes and kills Natalia Verdugo, Monarch’s deputy director .
Kong tries to stop the new monster, but Titan X escapes into the ocean, leaving Kong roaring in frustration on the shore. The episode ends with a massive new threat loose in the world and a big power vacuum now inside Monarch itself .
Also Read:
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Release Info and Streaming Details
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 Episode 1 premiered globally on Apple TV+ on February 27, 2026. Viewers in the United States were able to access the episode early on the evening of February 26 .
For viewers around the world, here are the specific release times for the first episode:
- United States (East Coast): 9:00 p.m. ET (Feb 26)
- United States (West Coast): 6:00 p.m. PT (Feb 26)
- United Kingdom: 2:00 a.m. GMT (Feb 27)
- India: 7:30 a.m. IST (Feb 27)
- Australia (Sydney): 12:00 p.m. AEDT (Feb 27)
- Canada: 9:00 p.m. ET (Feb 26)
The new season consists of 10 episodes. Following the premiere, new episodes will be released every Friday. Episode 2 is scheduled to drop on March 6, 2026. The season finale is currently scheduled for May 1, 2026 .
Full Season 2 Release Schedule
- Episode 1: “Cause and Effect” – February 27, 2026
- Episode 2: “Resonance” – March 6, 2026
- Episode 3: TBA – March 13, 2026
- Episode 4: TBA – March 20, 2026
- Episode 5: TBA – March 27, 2026
- Episode 6: TBA – April 3, 2026
- Episode 7: TBA – April 10, 2026
- Episode 8: TBA – April 17, 2026
- Episode 9: TBA – April 24, 2026
- Episode 10: TBA – May 1, 2026
The Cast of Season 2
The show brings back its main cast for the new season. Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell both return as the older and younger versions of Lee Shaw. Anna Sawai is back as Cate Randa, alongside Mari Yamamoto as Keiko, Anders Holm as Bill Randa, Kiersey Clemons as May, and Ren Watabe as Kentaro . New cast members joining the season include Amber Midthunder and Takehiro Hira.
Also Read: Game of Thrones Universe Expands: Aegon’s Conquest Series in the Works With Major Hollywood Talent
We bring you the biggest stories from the world of entertainment, streaming, and film, breaking down the news so you are always in the know. Keep checking back with VvipTimes for all the latest updates on your favorite shows and stars.
